Bishop Burnet's absence of mind is well known. Dining with the Duchess of Marlborough, after her husband's disgrace, he compared this great general to Belisarius.
'But,' said the Duchess eagerly, 'how came it that such a man was so miserable, and universally deserted?'
'Oh, madam,' exclaimed the distrait prelate, 'he had such a brimstone of a wife!'